Antoine Domino was born in New Orleans February 26, 1928. Happy #76 to Fats Domino.
Fats doesn't really get the full credit he deserves. All in all, he rates as one of the top three or four architects of the rock music tradition. He's definitely the leader of the New Orleans contingent. He personally went a good ways toward putting the roll in rock and roll.
He had more hits than Little Richard and Chuck Berry combined. He was a songwriting, piano playing, singing fool. Surely even silly non-music listening young Britney Spears fans know several of his songs. He's had something over 100 chart singles.
A quick roll call of a few of his classics:
Blueberry Hill
I'm Walkin'
Walkin' to New Orleans
Lady Madonna
Fat Man
Ain't That a Shame
I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday
Blue Monday
I Want to Walk You Home
He doesn't get much attention today, though. There's no movie about his life, or tribute albums that I know of. Silly ol' Pat Boone gets more notoriety.
Fats messed up by living right. He was never arrested that I know of. He was straight and clean living. I've never heard of any hint of scandal about him. He didn't marry a cousin. He wasn't even gay. What kind of rock star is that?
He's just had to settle for being one of the most accomplished and biggest selling singers and songwriters of the rock tradition. Oh, well.
Article comments
1 - Steven Rubio
Thanks for the memories about a true great one. I, too, have always thought Fats was underrated. Listened to some of his music this morning, and it went down easy, like it always does.
2 - Biff
You are absolutely, positively dead wrong about the gay part. At a show in 1973 in Chicago, Fats decided I would join him upstairs. Being surrounded by three large fellows made it difficult to refuse, but I eventually succeeded. There was no mistaking his intent.
3 - Charlotte Wrenn RiCharde
We are thrilled you are alive and rescued in New Orleans after Katrina, Mr Domino! You may remember my father, who adored you and was your friend in the 1950-60's, Dr. Creighton Wrenn, of Mooresville, North Carolina, who met you while he attended Tulane Medical School. He drove to your concert and saw you the night he died in August of 1966, too young, at 58. There was some story about your trading rings. Maybe you remember. I would love to talk to you. God bless you and your family in N.O.
Charlotte Wrenn RiCharde
4 - martin thomas
I was very glad to read that you are well, even though it was in an article (Chicago Tribune)about you loading your muddied gold records into the trunk of your car after your mansion was flooded by the hurricane. Your CD set "They Call Me the Fat Man" is the only one I own and I have listened to your songs over and over in the last month. Your music always makes me happy. Good luck to you.
5 - Professor
I would certainly like to hope that Biff is wrong about the 1973 experience. His music is what's important and he shouldn't be looked down upon because of one little misunderstanding. Besides, I've never read or heard anything about that. However, Fats is a hero of mine; he was the one who made me want to play the piano, and I was so thrilled to hear that he was rescued after Katrina. Keep on rockin' Fats!